A new First State Pre-K Coalition survey aims to document Delaware families’ childcare needs and experiences to drive change.

The First State Pre-K Coalition asks parents of children under 12 to share their stories.

Families who complete the survey do not have to be permanent residents or U.S. citizens to take the survey. The survey seeks to highlight and understand what the needs of all Delawarean families and community members need in their early childcare programs. The survey is confidential, and no individual data will be shared.

The coalition urges parents to take the quick survey at bit.ly/2024DEfamilysurvey. Families can take the survey in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole. They can choose a language in the top right corner.

“The cost of childcare makes it impossible to get ahead, let alone pay debt, or do anything extra outside of daily living,” said a parent from New Castle County responding to last year’s survey.

Delaware families face a heavy burden from high childcare costs. Many struggle to find or afford good care. Providers face burnout, staffing shortages, and budget cuts.

Last year’s survey showed that 44% of families faced problems. These included a lack of programs, scheduling conflicts, and high costs.

The survey asks about families' childcare searches and the kind of childcare they use. It also asks how childcare has affected their careers and how it has changed their family budgets.

Eighty percent of families last year said high childcare costs block them from working, studying, or buying a home.

Surveys show that childcare advocates and providers want to help families more. That includes better access to subsidized childcare. They also want increased support for providers to help meet the growing demand. Many families still cannot afford quality childcare. The annual survey aims to help ensure that every family gets the care they need.

The average cost of childcare per year per child is $10,164 in Delaware. And only 1 in 5 children have access to state-sponsored programs.

For more information, visit firststateprek.com.